Saltwater in Mississippi Taints Drinking Supply

By

Cameron McWhirter and

Mike Esterl

Aug. 17, 2012 5:33 p.m. ET

The latest fallout from the historic U.S. drought: salty tap water in southern Louisiana.

Saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico is creeping up the Mississippi River, affecting drinking water in communities near the river's mouth and triggering a scramble to ferry in emergency supplies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also is building a barrier on the riverbed to halt the saline flow.